Mexico’s President Refutes Trump’s Claim: ‘Not to Close Borders but Build Bridges’
Claudia Sheinbaum gestures to supporters in Mexico City after being declared the winner of the presidential election on June 3, 2024. (Daniel Becerril/Reuters/File)
President-elect Donald Trump’s assertion that Mexico will help “close the southern border” has been strongly disputed by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, who clarified her country’s stance on immigration and border policies.
On Wednesday, Trump took to Truth Social, boasting about what he described as a productive conversation with Sheinbaum Pardo. “Just had a wonderful conversation with the new President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo,” he posted. “She has agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border.”
In a follow-up post, Trump doubled down, writing, “Mexico will stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately. THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD STOPPING THE ILLEGAL INVASION OF THE USA. Thank you!!!”
However, Sheinbaum Pardo quickly refuted these claims on X (formerly Twitter). She explained that during their discussion, she emphasized Mexico’s “comprehensive strategy” to address migration with respect for human rights. “Thanks to this, migrants and caravans are assisted before they reach the border,” she wrote. “We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and between peoples.”
Her clarification followed an earlier post describing the conversation as “excellent.” She elaborated on X: “We discussed Mexico’s strategy on the migration phenomenon and I shared that caravans are not arriving at the northern border because they are being taken care of in Mexico. We also discussed strengthening collaboration on security issues within the framework of our sovereignty and the campaign we are carrying out in the country to prevent the consumption of fentanyl.”
Sheinbaum Pardo’s remarks highlight Mexico’s recent efforts to manage migration. Illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border fell to a three-year low, with the Border Patrol processing about 84,000 migrants in June — the lowest monthly total since President Joe Biden took office. From fiscal year 2021 to 2024, U.S. authorities encountered unauthorized migrants approximately 9.4 million times, three times the total under Trump.
The disagreement underscores the complexity of migration policies and the differing narratives between the two leaders. While Trump portrays Mexico’s actions as aligning with his hardline approach, Sheinbaum Pardo continues to emphasize a strategy rooted in collaboration, sovereignty, and human rights. The clash reflects broader tensions in the U.S.-Mexico relationship as Trump prepares to assume office once again.
